The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-16

are prevented by the cry of "stick to
Jour party" This was exempliied in
the last presidential contest. The tenn.
perance men had ticket before the
people, and good one, and what sup.
port did it get? The merest triAe.
Before the election we were told that
public sentiment was everywhere rap.
idly changing in regard to the use of
intoxicants, that the people were becom-
ing every day more thoroughly con-
vinced that the manufacture and sale Of
strong drink must be stopped, and that
it was the duty of all good citizens to
aid in having laws enacted to bring
about this grand result, and yet when
the sincere and consistent advocates of
this change ATTEMPTED to carry their
theory into practice, and presented a
ticket having for its object this very
thing, the majority of these professed
advocates of the temperance cause, in.
stead of manfully backing up their
declarations by their ballots, listened
to the threats Of party leaders, and sur
rendered their convictions at the crack
of the party lash.
1t is just the same with the farmers.
We grumble abont the situation and
talk loudly about change. We as
semble in annual conventions and dis
cuss our grievances, pass high-sounding
resolutions about the nobility of our
occupation, denounce the laws under
which we live as oppressive, demand
more equitable system Of taxation, and
great many other things, and before
the next election takes place, the en-
thusiasm has subsided, and the same
old party leaders are allowed to make
up the tickets, both of which contain
the names of men who can be depended
upon to vote as the masters direct.
1t may be asked, how are we to bring
about change and get better nomina-
ticns? l answer, by adopting the sug-
gestions contained in a resolution passed
by the farmers club OF Cecil, which
was substantially this: "That, if Meth
er of the existing parties nominate
good ticket, the citizens of the county,
irrespective of party, assemble in con
vention and place before the people the
names of men wLo are deserving of
support" 1t is the height of folly to
continue longer in the present course.
There is not business firm in the
state that would retain in its service
incompetent persons simply because of
political considerations. The stock
holders of railroads and banks would
laugh at the suggestion of entrusting
the management of their affairs to men
whose only recommendation was that
they were identified with certain
party-and why should the taxpayers
and stockholders of the state of Mary.
land act with less wisdom?
We are as much Interested in the
selection of our representatives as they
are, but we don't want the same class Of
men. The subject of taxation will oc-
cupy good deal Of the attention of our
next legislature, and it is we'll known
that there is wide difference between
the views of farmers and capitalists in
regard to it. We want our taxes re.
duced by making them pay their fair
share, whilst they of course will en-
deavor to have things remain as at
present. Hence it is important that we
send representatives to Annapolis who
have settled convictions upon this sub.
ject, and who have irmness enough to
resist all temptations to abandon them.
We want men who have intelligence
enough to comprehend what is needed,
and who are not under the control of
bosses, and who have honesty enough
to resist all efforts at bribery.
would like to say something about
the folly Of calling constitutional con-
ventiop, but have already exceeded my
limit. LAPsToNE.
Cecil Co., Nd, august 1887.
--t<OS<----